MH17: Inside the process behind the UN Security Council vote on Australian-sponsored resolution

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop addresses the Security Council after the vote was held.

AFP: Timothy A Clary

A massive amount of lobbying was needed by the Australian contingent for the UN vote on a MH17 resolution to pass.

The resolution condemning the "downing" of the Malaysia Airlines passenger jet was passed unanimously on Tuesday morning (AEST), but only after frantic behind-the-scenes negotiations with Russia and other key players, writes North America correspondent Lisa Millar.

It was 1:30am at the Australian UN Mission in New York, and one by one the team was calling it a night.